Public Policy and the Education of Children with Special Needs

Abstract

This paper reviews several programs for children with special needs, from historical perspectives, current involvements, and one particular orientation, railed the “child development model.” With respect to programs based on the child development model, it is recommended that each state consider planning toward the eventual organization of a child development agency, responsible for all children with special needs, irrespective of their characteristics, educational attainments, and prognoses. Further, it is recommended that, to the degree programs encourage and support the maintenance of children in community environments, they should be reworded in both specific and general ways: and for purposes of better guaranteeing human rights and due process, citizen advisory and other advocacy groups should be organized throughout a state and given such support as would be needed to make these groups active and responsive grass roots partners in policy and decision making.